U.S.-headquartered energy giant Chevron has extended its Sub-Saharan Africa exploration streak with a new hydrocarbon discovery off the coast of Angola.
Chevron has confirmed an oil and gas condensate discovery at an exploration well in Angola’s Block 0, adding to the company’s exploration momentum in Sub-Saharan Africa. Located in the Lower Congo Basin, this discovery is seen as reflecting the strength of the firm’s exploration portfolio and its continued focus on identifying new resource opportunities.
The company contracted ADES’ Shelf Drilling Tenacious rig for these drilling activities. The 2007-built jack-up rig is of a Baker Marine Pacific Class 375 design and had its last upgrade in 2022. The rig, which can operate in water depths of up to 375 feet, can accommodate 150 people.
Block 0 is operated by Chevron’s wholly owned subsidiary, Cabinda Gulf Oil Company (CGOC). The well encountered more than 2,000 feet of oil and gas condensate column, which included more than 300 feet of net pay.
The firm’s Vice President of Exploration emphasizes that this discovery marks the beginning of a new phase of work, as teams will now determine whether it can be developed using nearby facilities, since discoveries often become more competitive when they can be tied back to existing infrastructure.
Kevin McLachlan, Chevron’s Vice President of Exploration, highlighted: “The early results are encouraging, and additional work will help determine the resource’s full potential and possible development opportunities. I would describe it as excellent reservoir quality.”
Chevron targeted the Lower Congo Basin because of its proven geology and decades of experience in Angola. The discovery follows another recent achievement in Block 0, related to the South N’dola platform, which delivered first oil in December 2025.
The milestone was reached just over two years after construction on the platform began. The latest discovery is part of the firm’s broader exploration campaign across Sub-Saharan Africa. Additional exploration activity is planned across the region, including Namibia, Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau, and Equatorial Guinea.
The company, which currently produces around 300,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day net in the region, has expanded its position through new acreage and recent exploration successes in Nigeria.
McLachlan underlined: “Every successful well adds information, confidence and potential pathways for future growth. Discoveries create value when they combine resource potential with a practical path to development.
“The opportunity we’re evaluating in Angola reflects both, and it reinforces our confidence in the broader exploration portfolio we’re building.”
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